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Former Los Alamos Assistant County Administrator Diana Mariani-Stepan was found dead by police in her Los Alamos home Dec. 4. She was 57.
Los Alamos Police Department officers tried to contact Mariani-Stepan after receiving a request for a welfare check. Cpl. Adam R. Jung was dispatched to the home when a call came in reporting an unresponsive female.
Upon arrival, medical personnel already on site informed Jung that Mariani-Stepan was deceased. She was pronounced dead at 10 p.m. The police report classified it as “unattended death.” There was no evidence that a crime was committed, according to the police report.
Mariani-Stepan lived alone. She was formerly married to Tom Stepan.
She began with the county as director of the Administrative Services Department in November 2001 and was promoted to assistant county administrator in May 2004.
The county fired Mariani-Stepan in December 2010, after she had filed a grievance against former County Administrator Tony Mortillaro. An investigation by an outside firm found no wrongdoing by Mortillaro, but in June 2012, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) found the county guilty of sex discrimination and retaliation.
Stepan filed suit against the county for wrongful termination, which resulted in an $800,000 settlement.

WASHINGTON — John Glenn, whose 1962 flight as the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the Earth made him an all-American hero and propelled him to a long career in the U.S. Senate, died Thursday. The last survivor of the original Mercury 7 astronauts was 95.

Glenn died at the James Cancer Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, where he was hospitalized for more than a week, said Hank Wilson, communications director for the John Glenn School of Public Affairs.

John Herschel Glenn Jr. had two major career paths that often intersected: flying and politics, and he soared in both of them.

Before he gained fame orbiting the world, he was a fighter pilot in two wars, and as a test pilot, he set a transcontinental speed record. He later served 24 years in the Senate from Ohio. A rare setback was a failed 1984 run for the Democratic presidential nomination.

His long political career enabled him to return to space in the shuttle Discovery at age 77 in 1998, a cosmic victory lap that he relished and turned into a teachable moment about growing old. He holds the record for the oldest person in space.

The Los Alamos girls basketball team is going through an offensive rough patch.
And Hilltoppers coach Josh Archuleta said he’s not ready to “let the reigns loose” on offense. Turnovers remain the big issue for the Hilltoppers who amassed more than 20 turnovers for a second-straight game.
Los Alamos scored less than 40 points for the sixth time this season en route to a 51-38 loss against Santa Fe High Tuesday night at Griffith Gym.
“I asked them what team we’re going to be,” Archuleta said. “I can’t have a heckle and jeckle team where I let them turn loose and have double-digit turnovers. Once you’re in double-digit turnovers, it’s hard to recover from that. We really worked on shooting (on Monday) and emphasized on going back to the basics.”
The Hilltoppers fell to 3-4 on the season, while the Demons improved to 2-4.
“If we keep teams to 40 and below it would be a different ball game,” Archuleta said. “I know we’re the better team but when it comes down to crunch time, these girls love that atmosphere.”
Offensively, Los Alamos struggled out of the gate going 1 of 3 from the floor. Meanwhile, Santa Fe went 4 for 4 to start the game, including two 3-pointers to help give the Demons a 12-10 first quarter lead.

As the year comes to a close, the ladies of the Preceptor Beta chapter of Beta Sigma Phi are celebrating 25 years of service for two of their members.
Beta Sigma Phi is a sorority built on the foundation of friendship and culture and lucky for the community of Los Alamos, deeply steeped in service due to the goodwill of the membership.
It all began in 1931 with Founder Walter W. Ross and today is present in more than 30 countries building friendships and providing an instant connection for its members wherever they may go.
Kathy Enloe and Elena Guerra were celebrated at a recent meeting for their true dedication to the aims of the organization of; “Life, Learning and Friendship.”
“They both live life to the full, whether it is with their families, their church activities or helping their community,” said Preceptor Beta President, Claire Swinhoe. “I truly value their friendship and sisterhood.”
This past year, Guerra has been instrumental in organizing gift-giving for the chapter and always does it in a kind and caring way guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
Enloe brings happiness to patients and staff at Los Alamos Medical Center by heading up a Halloween decorating pumpkin activity with a sense of compassion, while being family orientated.

The League of Women Voters will hold Lunch with Leader at 11:45 a.m. Dec. 13 at Mesa Public Library. State Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto from Albuquerque will speak about the recent elections, upcoming ethics legislation and public safety.
Ivey-Soto is a life-long public servant. He is a former State Elections director, prosecutor and teacher as well as a member of the League of Women Voters. The senator started two small businesses that focused on helping others and improving the community. Over the past few years, Ivey-Soto has written over 12 bills that have passed the Legislature. The bills have been based on a philosophy of good government and accountability.
To order a lunch from the Co-op for $10, call or text Karyl Ann Armbruster at 231-8286, or email her at kaskacayman@gmail.com, by 5 p.m. Saturday, but lunch is not mandatory. She will give you the menu choices.